Car tracking has become the need of the hour, and car owners certainly want their car to be safe. When people look for these devices, there are lots of options available in the market. This is not about the brand, but the various categories options can place one in a dilemma. Here is a detailed description of the types of trackers available in the market, and accordingly you can choose as per your needs and convenience.

There are 3 types of trackers available in the market.

• Hardwired
• Portable
• OBD

Hardwired Trackers

This kind of GPS trackers is for monitoring a single vehicle. These are mostly used in the vehicles of earlier than 1996 where the OBD II ports were missing. It is preferred for the car owners who want to hide the installation for greater security. The electrical system of the vehicle is used for power, and there is no need to charge the device manually.

Portable Devices

These are perfect for individuals to use on their cars, and who travel more frequently. This is a real time tracker that caters to the need of many users. These are modern devices, and the accessories are included in the package like a micro USB cable, lanyard and waterproof case.

OBD Plug and Play Chargers

This is a perfect choice for tracking not only a single vehicle but a fleet of vehicles. Using the OBD car tracker has lots of advantages for the users.
• The installation is simple, and it takes only a few seconds, say about 30 to 45 seconds.
• The plug and play real time tracking device can be fitted to the OBD II port of the car’s dashboard.
• There is no need to charge this device manually.
• Telematics is captured immediately, and the same is informed to the fleet owner. This helps the owners to ensure that the car is safe, and out of troubles.
• Any misuse of vehicles will be notified with no delays to the users.

Apart from these advantages, many features are alluring about the OBD plug and play tracking device.

• The operating expenses are reduced, as the shortest routes can be chosen.
• The company’s productivity can be increased as the employer can always oversee if the employees are misusing the vehicles.
• The vehicles can be effectively monitored round the clock, and the money saving is made easy, as fuel consumption is lowered.
• With the OBD car tracking device the vehicle utilization is maximized.
• The field staff can be managed with ease, and corrective actions wherever and whenever required can be taken.
• Route planning can be done with ease.
• The exact location of the vehicle can be traced at any given point of time.
• Dispatch inaccuracies can never happen, as the vehicles can be tracked for all reasons behind the delay.
• Administration account is single and managing the same is easy and non-complicated.

Precautions

Finding the right OBD port is a must, and for a few vehicles, these may not be compatible. But compared with the downsides of the hardwired devices which include the requirement of an auto electrician to fix the device, and the device being not portable, the disadvantages of the plug and play devices are negligible.

Classic car owners, including those with muscle cars, street rods, hot rods, antiques and vintage trucks, are facing uncertain times as car thefts are on the rise, and actions from thieves are becoming more bold and brazen.

I recently came across a story written by a man who owned a Daytona Blue 1963 Corvette Coupe with all matching numbers. The all-original classic sport car had an immaculate dark blue interior where only the carpet had ever been replaced. The 327 engine was said to produce a rhythmic loping that not only brought a smile to your face, but got you day dreaming of having this beauty parked in your own garage. Then disaster strikes and you’re snapped out of your dream and into his nightmare!

The owner of this beautiful piece of American history took his prized car to what he called a small “backwoods” show that a friend and he decided to go to in the spur of the moment. As owner Jacob Morgan, of Bakersfield, CA described, “The event was an annual but rather unofficial gathering of classic car buffs and I was thrilled to bring my car down. Unfortunately, the part of Florida that the event was being held was extremely dry due to drought. About three or four hours after arriving, a man who owned a red GTO (I could not tell you the year because frankly I did not care afterward) decided to start up his ride for the spectators. It was just one backfire but it was enough to start the dry grass ablaze–and guess where my Corvette was parked?

Nearly thirty classic cars were consumed by the blaze started by that backfiring GTO and my Corvette was one of them. Of course I had the car properly insured but they just aren’t making 1963 Corvettes any longer and the only one I could find that was similar cost $10,000 more than my policy’s payoff. I guess if there is a moral to my sad tale, it is to avoid backwoods car shows at all costs because they are unregulated, disorganized, and very dangerous to classic cars like my beloved 1963 Corvette Coupe.”

This may not be your traditional way of losing your prized classic car, muscle car, street rod, antique car, vintage truck or other collectible old vehicle, but it does drive home the point that we need to exercise care in even the most innocent surroundings like a car show! Freak accidents like Mr. Morgan experienced can and do account for many losses to enthusiasts – not just theft or vandalism.

Sadly though, theft isn’t a rare thing and the methods are becoming more bizarre. Guy Algar and I have had pieces stolen off one of our own vehicles that we were towing back to our shop while we stopped for a quick bite to eat! We’ve had a good number of hubcaps taken over the years. And, we actually had the brake lights ripped off of our car hauler while we were in a parts store one day picking up parts for a customer! We’ve had one customer tell us the story where he had taken his wife out to dinner and had carefully parked his 1969 Corvette at a local restaurant, under a big bright light, and in what appeared to be a “safe” area, only to come out 45 minutes to an hour later to find all his emblems and trim taken right off the car! Thieves have been known to take the entire car hauler (with the classic sitting on top) right off the tow vehicle’s hitch ball and transfer the hauler to their own tow vehicle when people are on the road, at a car show, or some other type of event. These are bold moves by people who do not fear the consequences.

Other thefts that have been reported around the country have included:

Dr. Phil just had his ’57 Chevy Belair convertible stolen from the Burbank repair shop he had brought it to for repairs.

A 1937 Buick, valued at over $100,000 was taken from a gated community parking garage in Fort Worth, Texas.

Tom of New Mexico reported the theft of two of his collector cars to Hemming. Tom owns about half a dozen collector cars altogether, and to store them all, he rented out a storage unit. Unfortunately, when he went to check on them recently, for the first time in about six months, he found that two were missing – a 1957 two-door Chevrolet Belair and a 1967 Mercury Cougar GT.

There was also a report of a man from Jefferson City, Missouri, who actually recovered his own stolen car, a 1969 Chevrolet Camaro that had been stolen 16 years before, after seeing it in a Google search!

In a Los Angeles suburb, a woman came home to a garage empty of her prized 1957 Chevy Bel-Air which had been valued at more than $150,000. The beautiful convertible had been featured in several magazines and TV shows and won dozens of awards at car shows around the country. A neighbor’s surveillance camera caught the actions of the thieves and revealed that the Bel-Air was pushed down the street by a pickup truck which had pulled into her driveway just minutes after she had left. The thieves likely loaded it onto an awaiting trailer. It’s thought that the thieves spotting the car at one of the car shows, followed it home afterwards, then waited for the opportunity to steal it.

A Seattle collector was the victim of a targeted “smash-and grab” from the warehouse where he kept his cars. The thieves apparently ransacked the building and drove off with a 396/425 four-speed 1965 Corvette Stingray; and a 20,000-mile 396/four-speed 1970 Chevelle SS.

A 1959 Chevrolet Impala was stolen during a Cruise Night. The owner got good news-bad news when the police tracked down because while they did recover the classic car, he had put in a claim for the theft with his insurance policy after the theft many months before, so the car went to the insurance company rather than being returned to him. Apparently detectives recovered the Impala from a chop shop nearly eight months after it was stolen, repainted and modified.

Hemmings News also reported of a reader whose 1970 Ford Maverick was stolen from his home in Missouri. The car was found and returned, but the investigation apparently revealed that the thief had been watching the owner for 2 years, with the intention of stealing it and using it to race with. Chilling thing to find out.

A 1979 Buick Electra 225 Limited Edition was stolen out of a grocery store parking lot in suburban Detroit with the thief escaping with an urn inside the trunk that contained the remains of the owner’s stepfather!

After saving for over 40 years, a man from Virginia bought the car of his dreams, a 1962 Dodge Lancer. Buying his dream car, he began his restoration project, which was about 60 percent complete when he relocated to Texas. Without a garage to keep it in after his move, he stored it in a 24-foot enclosed trailer along with a 1971 Dodge Colt he planned to turn into a race car, and kept the trailer parked at a storage lot. At the end of July, the trailer and everything in it disappeared.

The last story actually has a happy ending because it was recovered due to alert shop owners being suspicious of person wanting to unload a Lancer for only $1,500 including the many boxes of parts. After some research, the owner was reunited with his car. Guy and I have been approached on numerous occasions by people wanting to sell their vehicles. Some have hardship stories and the callers are willing to unload the car for a real bargain. We’ve always walked from these offers, primarily because we’re not in the business of buying and selling cars (we’re not dealers or re-sellers), but also because we’re cautious of a “too-good-to-be-true” price. One call in particular did make us very suspicious, as the woman caller insisted that the sale had to be completed by Monday (she called our shop over the weekend) and the price was extremely low for a rather rare model Mustang. Alert shop owners can be instrumental in aiding in the recovery of stolen classic cars.

But not all stories have a happy ending like this. Classic cars, muscle cars and antiques can make their way to chop shops, end up damaged and abandoned, and even being re-sold on Internet sites such as eBay and Craigslist!

Just yesterday, I reported on a 1954 Chevy Pickup truck which was stolen from a woman’s driveway in Oklahoma City. (Ironically this article was already written and scheduled for release today when the news hit. I’ve added her case because, unfortunately, it emphasizes how common thefts have become.) She wisely reached out to the Hemmings community of enthusiasts for help. Hemmings.com has a huge following, referred to as “Hemmings Nation”, and appealing for help to a community of enthusiasts like this can be instrumental in helping to give vital information to police and authorities who can help track and recover a stolen classic car. We applaud the work that Hemmings does.

And, the methods that thieves are using, as you can see, are as varied as the types of vehicles! Even seemingly innocent little car shows and gatherings are places you need to exercise a little caution and care. As I reported in a July article, carjackings involving classic cars are even becoming more commonplace.

Surprisingly, in some cases, the Internet has been helpful in aiding in the recovery of classic cars and muscle cars. There have been numerous stories, much like the Camaro owner above, and a man who found his 1949 Ford through a listing on Craigslist (the two men responsible were arrested and charged with disassembling a vehicle after the owner positively identified it as his) where owners have been able to locate their cars in Internet searches.

For those not so fortunate, insurance is the only consolation. We highly recommend classic car or “collector” car insurance. There are a number of companies that provide this specialized insurance, and it is generally well worth the cost. Classic Car News provided an article, Purchasing Classic Car Insurance, containing a list of companies along with links to contact them. I also recommend Hagerty Insurance’s publication, Deterring Collector Car Theft, which has tips on theft prevention.

In addition to the quick-strip thefts, thieves usually always alter, remove or forge VIN numbers, which make identification of the car or truck more difficult. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) are serial numbers for vehicles that are used to differentiate similar makes and models. Much like social security numbers, every vehicle has a different VIN. VIN plates are usually located on the dashboard on newer cars, but are often found in the door jams of older models. VIN plates can be switched with another vehicle for a fast coverup.

The point here is to be aware of your surroundings, including where you park your car. Don’t take it for granted that just because you’re at an event with fellow enthusiasts that something bad can’t happen. Take preventive action by securing your old car or truck. Guy Algar suggests, “Don’t forget to take precautions even at home. You may feel safe parking your ride in ‘the safety’ of your two car garage, but remember, even if you don’t have windows where people can peer in and spot your valued car, thieves can also follow you home from work, a cruise, or even the grocery store and plan a theft after surveilling your home and learning your schedule. If you have a ride that catches people’s attention, remember that it can also catch the wrong attention!”

RESOURCES:

Hagerty Insurance – Deterring Collector Car Theft

Classic Car News – Purchasing Classic Car Insurance

AUTHOR’S NOTE:

The safety of your classic car or muscle car is extremely important to most owners. Everyone wants to protect their ride with methods that work, and that won’t bust the bank. We draw on the experience of experts in Classic Car News’ upcoming series entitled “Keep Our Rides Safe”, which appear each Wednesday. – Andrea

Andrea L. Algar is co-owner of a classic car performance and restoration design shop in Leesville, Texas. Motorheads Performance specializes in repairs, maintenance, performance upgrades and restorative work on cars and trucks from the 1920′s through 1970′s. Her husband Guy L. Algar is a Mechanical Engineer with over 25 years experience. He holds 5 ASE Certifications from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence and has been working on old cars and trucks for over 37 years. Together they share their passion for old cars and trucks with other enthusiasts from around the country.

When seeking cheap car rental, many people prefer to book holiday or business car hire in advance. Car hire is usually a must for most business trips, unless you are being picked up at the airport. Driving a company car is fine for short trips, but when you have long distances to travel, or even overseas, then you have to hire a car and you want something appropriate for your needs.

Holiday car rental can be even more important to most people, particularly if they have large families involving two adults and three or four children. It’s bad enough having two children in the back of a small car let alone three! You likely know what I mean!

On vacation you might need a 4×4 or even a people carrier (strange name) that can fit your whole family comfortably and without complaints the whole way! These are not always available at airports, so you could have a problem if you don’t book in advance. The same is true of more prestigious business cars such as 7-Series BMW, Mercedes or similar, and for these you will almost certainly have to book your business car rental in advance.

That’s fine if you are seeking cheap car rental in your own country, but you may have difficulty doing so when traveling abroad. It’s difficult enough booking a car in Hawaii when you live in Colorado, but try making an advance booking in Kenya when you live in Australia! Wouldn’t it be great if you could find a simple way to book business car hire or a car for your holidays from your own home? Or have your secretary do it for you without tearing her hair out?

Most people prefer to book their car in advance when going on vacation or for business trips. Cheap car rental is easier to get by booking early online, and by doing so they make sure they get the car they need, and not just ‘what’s available’. Others don’t seem to bother about forward booking of hire cars: they will book air tickets and train tickets in advance but leave their cars to luck!

Cheap Car Rental Cost Advantage

There are several advantages of booking your holiday car rental in advance, not the least being cost. Most car hire firms will charge less for an advance booking than if you simply turn up at the desk, so booking your vacation or business car rental in advance will probably save you money – particularly if you book a car online. Sometimes that’s not possible with business trips, but you should at least know when your flight is due to arrive at its destination. You can book your car online in advance for that time and likely get a better price than somebody walking off the plane and trying to get cheap car rental at the desk.

Better Choice of Cars

There are other advantages though, not the least being the choice of cars you may be offered. Booking car hire in advance enables you choose the car you want – at least up to a point. If you hire a car from the airport you are restricted to what they have available: not just what is available for airport car rental, but to what is left, particularly if you are near the back of the queue!

It’s not easy to find a car to suit you if you have five or six in your family, and lots of luggage. In fact, you might not find anything and have to pay for a couple of taxis to your hotel so that they can help you out with renting a car big enough for your needs. It is far better to have booked your holiday car rental in advance.

Cheap Car Rental Price Comparisons

If you know the type of vehicle you need, you should be able to compare cheap car rental prices across car hire firms and also across models that meet your specifications. By hiring a car in advance you should be able to achieve that by entering your needs into a search engine and be offered a range of vehicles in order of price for any country you want.

Perhaps you have different collection and drop-off points, so how would that affect the cost of your car hire? Is it easy to search over a number of car hire firms or do you have to visit the web pages of each separately? How about searching over a range of countries? If you live in the USA and are traveling to Austria or Switzerland for some skiing, wouldn’t you like to be able to book the car you want and be able to get the best price for it?

3 Kids and a Mini!

These things are not easy to do and people generally settle for trying to get as near the head of the queue as possible at immigration and customs, and reach that car hire desk as quickly as they can. Then you have the problem of how many others have hired cars that day, and is the type of business car rental you need still available. It’s all worry and stress you can do without. What if you can’t get a car? It doesn’t bear thinking about! 3 kids and a wife, and you failed to get anything but a mini! That might be taking cheap car rental a step too far!

You can find a world-wide cheap car rental service along with rail booking service if you need it, on Global Car Rental that offers you a photo and specifications of the cars available from a range of vacation and business car hire firms from which you can choose your ideal car.